Fish Fry Fridays are back at American Legion Post 25, 4 JFK Dr., Milltown, from 5-8 p.m. on Fridays, Feb. 28 to April 10.
Cost is $10 for adults, or $5 for children 12 and under. Dinner includes fries or macaroni and cheese, plus salad, coleslaw and dessert.
Take out is available for an additional 50 cents each meal.
For more information, call 732-828-7125.
The Friends of the Jamesburg Library are raffling off New Jersey Lottery scratch off tickets and gift cards throughout the month.
The winning ticket will be drawn at 1 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the library, 229 Gatzmer Ave., Jamesburg.
Proceeds help fund the summer programs for children, and public use computers.
The cost is $5 per ticket, available from a Friends member or the circulation desk at the library.
For more information, visit www.jamesburglibrary.org or call 732-521-0440.
The East Brunswick Library offers the online service ReferenceUSA, and will hold a special program called “Give Your Business a Boost with Reference USA!” at 10 a.m. on Feb. 17 at the library, Civic Center Drive off of Ryders Lane, to discuss how library users can use this service.
Led by Bill Carlson of InfoGroup, ReferenceUSA’s parent company, this interactive session is for entrepreneurs and local business owners. Attendees will learn how to use the resource to identify sales prospects, create marketing lists, examine business competition, and several other features of this powerful database.
ReferenceUSA can be used free of charge at the library. It can also be accessed online with an East Brunswick Public Library card.
Refreshments will be served at this free program. Registration is required. To register, call the library at 732-390-6767 or visit www.ebpl.org/calendar.
Raritan Valley YMCA will hold a spin-athon on Feb. 29 at the Y, 144 Tices Lane, East Brunswick.
Zumba is 8-9 a.m., spin is held in hour intervals from 9 a.m. to noon, and mat Pilates is 11 a.m.
Admission is $35 per hour per person.
To register, visit raritanvalleyymca.org.
The South River Historical & Preservation Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the South River Museum (Old School Baptist Church), 64-66 Main St., South River.
The February meeting program titled “The U.S. Women’s Suffrage Movement” will be presented by Brian Armstrong, past president of the South River Historical Society. Armstrong will profile key players and organizations and provide a timeline of events leading up to the passage of the amendment and first vote in 1920. He will also present an overview of prominent female politicians involved in the suffrage movement.
The program is free to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, call 732-794-7023.
A Bunco fundraiser will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at VFW Post 133, 485 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, to benefit the Emily Fredricks Foundation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Bring an appetizer to share. Dessert and coffee will be provided. No outside beverages allowed; cash bar.
The entry fee is $10. For tickets, visit emilyfredricksfoundation.org/events
For more information, visit emilyfredricksfoundation.org.
Fredricks was an East Brunswick resident who was killed in 2017 while bicycling to work.
The Spotswood Education Foundation will hold a casino night fundraiser from 6-11 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the Helmetta Community Center, 1 Brookside Pl., Helmetta, to support grants for the Spotswood education system.
Price is $50 per person by Feb. 21 and includes dinner catered by Tuscany, desserts and assorted beverages. Each ticket receives $100 in “play” money.
Must be 21 years old to attend.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. To donate a service or item for the raffle, call Nick Legakis at 917-476-6418.
For more information, email [email protected].
The South River Police Department will hold Coffee with a Cop from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Dunkin Donuts, 75 Main St., South River.
Milltown Boy Scout Troop 33 will hold its annual fundraising spaghetti dinner from 5-7 p.m. on March 14 at the American Legion, 4 JFK Dr., Milltown.
Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 9, $8 for seniors, and $8 for early bird from 4-5 p.m.
Contact a local scout for tickets, or purchase at the door.
The East Brunswick Historical Society will present “The History of East Brunswick: From 1860 to Now” at 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road. Snow date is March 8.
Manny Alvarez, president of the East Brunswick Historical Society; Mark Nonestied, division head of the Office of Arts and History of Middlesex County and a contributing member of the East Brunswick Museum; and Mayor Brad Cohen will provide comments.
Refreshments available.
For more information, call 732-249-7397.
The Monroe Township League of Women Voters general meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Monroe Township Municipal Courtroom, 1 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
The guest speaker will be Joseph Storin, director of Monroe’s Utilities Department.
Disability Allies will hold its monthly movie pajama night from 5-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at The Young Adult Community Inclusion Center, in The Village Green Shopping Center, 415 Route 18, East Brunswick.
The cost is $10 per person.
There will be snacks.
Register in advance at disabilityallies.com/movienight
For more information, contact Audrey Weiner at 732-789-7027 or [email protected].
Any Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass who would like to join the Monroe Township Chorus can attend rehearsals from 9-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe.
For more information, call Director Sheila Werfel at 609-619-3229.
The Friends of the Jamesburg Library will hold their annual book sale through Feb. 28 at the library, 229 Gatzmer Ave., Jamesburg.
The cost is $5 per plastic grocery bag (handles must touch) or $1 per book. All types of books are available: fiction, non-fiction, children’s, craft and cook books.
Proceeds help fund the summer programs for children and public use computers.
For more information, visit www.jamesburglibrary.org or call 732-521-0440.
Mary Conti, director of marketing for the New Jersey chapter of The Nature Conservancy, will discuss the organization’s work in the state and how local residents can get involved in standing up for nature at 7 p.m. on March 4 at the East Brunswick Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center Dr., East Brunswick.
The lecture, free and open to the public, is part of the Option Green lecture series sponsored by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission in partnership with the library.
Conti, a lifelong East Brunswick resident, will discuss how The Nature Conservancy is working in New Jersey to protect land, fresh water and the Jersey Shore for people and wildlife, and how local residents can get involved. She’ll also discuss the organization’s national and international work on six continents.
For more information, visit friendsebec.com or email [email protected].
East Brunswick residents and those who work in town can rent a plot at the Community Garden, located adjacent to the Municipal Complex on Rues Lane.
The garden has 10-foot by 10-foot plots available to new gardeners on a first-come, first-served basis for $45 for the first season.
All gardeners are required to put in four hours of community garden service each year by working with a committee and participating in work days, or paying $40 in lieu of service. Gardeners can select from a list of committees found on the registration form.
For more information, visit ebcommunitygarden.weebly.com or email [email protected].
Applications are being accepted for the Middlesex County Youth Conservation Corps for Spring 2020.
Work will take place at several parcels in Old Bridge, East Brunswick, South Brunswick and Monroe, as well as other county open spaces as needed. Activities include trail building, litter clean-up, invasive species removal and wildlife habitat improvements.
Workers will earn $11.50 per hour. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, April 18 to June 6.
Applicants must be a least 16 years of age on start date; strong, enthusiastic, self-motivated, willing to work and learn as a part of a team; willing to get dirty and work outdoors in various weather conditions; able to walk several miles and stand for extended periods of time; able to kneel and lift materials greater than 25 pounds; able to use a variety of hand tools; and be able to read, understand and follow written instructions and maps.
Application deadline is Feb. 28. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to: Griffith Boyd, Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 661, New Brunswick 08903.
For more information, contact Boyd at 732-745-3064 or [email protected].
The Monroe Public Library will hold a number of children events in March, including Dr. Seuss’ Birthday at 5:30 p.m. on March 2, and a St. Patrick’s Day Party at 5:30 p.m. on March 16 at the library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
For more information, call 732-521-5000 or visit www.monroetwplibrary.org.
The Spotswood Police Department is accepting applications for the 2020 Junior Police Academy, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 13-17 at Spotswood High School, 105 Summerhill Road, Spotswood.
The academy is open to students entering sixth through 12th grades.
Applications can be picked up at Spotswood police headquarters, 77 Summerhill Road, Spotswood. Deadline to apply is June 29.
For more information, contact Detective Sgt. Edward Schapley at 732-416-1861 or [email protected].
One in 8 Middlesex County residents are food insecure – meaning they don’t have reliable, affordable access to nutritious foods and necessities.
The holidays are over but the need for food donations has not ended. MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services) is running low on items such as macaroni and cheese, rice, spaghetti, peanut butter, tuna fish, canned fruits and vegetables.
Consider hosting a food drive with your business, school, civic group or athletic team. MCFOODS can provide containers and transportation of items back to the warehouse. A flyer is attached that can be used or personalized to promote a collection.
Individual donations can be dropped off at the libraries in East Brunswick, Edison, Metuchen, Monroe, Piscataway, Plainsboro and Woodbridge.
MCFOODS is also in need of volunteers to help at the warehouse, offer professional expertise, assist at local events and host a food drive.
For more information, contact Jennifer Apostol, MCFOODS director, by calling 609-409-5033, emailing [email protected] or visiting www.mciauth.com.
Five spectacular gardens will enhance the 31st annual New Jersey Home & Garden Show Feb. 21-23 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
The show added “& Garden” to its name this year, and 4,500-square-feet of landscape design, plants, water features and more.
The highlight will be TV personality Doug Wilson of “Trading Spaces” sharing tips on how to achieve high-end flair on realistic budgets.
Attendees can take painting classes, browse and purchase the work of artisans and craftsmen, enjoy a model Tiny Home and study life-size mood boards designed for small rooms. In addition to a classic car auction, visitors will meet more than 200 remodelers, contractors, interior designers, landscapers, and kitchen and bath designers.
Hours are 3-8 p.m. on Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 22 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 23.
Tickets are $10 for adults; children 16 and under are free.
For more information, visit www.newjerseyhomeshow.com or www.facebook.com/NJHomeShow/
Monroe Township Public Schools will hold Kindergarten registration for children who will be five years old by Oct. 31.
Only a parent or legal guardian can register their child.
The following documents are required for registration: child’s original birth certificate; current physical form and immunization record signed and dated by a doctor; proofs of residency – a deed, tax bill, closing disclosure or lease, and three current utility bills; the accompaniment of the other family if residing with one; a sales contract to purchase a home in Monroe with a closing date on or before Oct. 31; an IEP or 504 if applicable; custody, adoption, foster parent or guardianship papers, if applicable.
Time slots at each school are 9:15-11:30 a.m. on the first day for last names ending in A-G, 1-2:45 p.m. on the first day for H-M, 9:15-11:30 a.m. on the second day for N-R, and 1-2:45 p.m. on the second day for S-Z.
Registration will be held at the Oak Tree Elementary School, 226 Applegarth Road, on Feb. 24 and 25. Call 609-655-7642 to receive the Registration Packet.
Registration will be held at the Mill Lake School, 115 Monmouth Road, on Feb. 27 and 28. Call 732-251-5336 to receive the Registration Packet.
Registration will be held at the Barclay Brook School, 358 Buckelew Avenue, on March 10 and 11. Call 732-521-1000 to receive the Registration Packet.
For questions regarding which school your child should attend, call Central Registration at 609-642-6128, ext. 4013.
The High School Equivalency Program is currently running and will conclude in May. Classes are held from 6-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at East Brunswick High School, 380 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Classes prepare attendees for TASC; not a testing center.
The Citizenship Program is currently running and will conclude in May. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays in Meeting Room 3 at the East Brunswick Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center Dr. Classes run either from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or from 12:30-3 p.m. dependent on class level.
The Middlesex County Board of Elections is seeking poll workers for the Primary Election on June 2. In addition to receiving a stipend of $200 for the day, poll workers perform a valuable civic service by helping to ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote.
Any county resident who is 18 years or older, registered to vote in Middlesex County and can speak English is qualified to become a poll worker. High school students (16 or 17 years old) can serve as poll workers if they are a United States citizen, a resident of Middlesex County, can speak English and have written permission from his or her parent or guardian and high school representative.
While all individuals are welcome to apply, the county’s focus is recruiting poll workers to assist the county’s large demographics of voters who speak English and at least one of the following languages: Spanish, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu, Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean.
No experience is needed. Before Election Day, each poll worker attends a single-session training course.
Those interested in becoming poll workers are advised to apply now in order to reserve a spot. For more information and to obtain an application, call the Middlesex County Board of Elections at 732-745-3471.
Playhouse 22 announced its 2019-20 season lineup:
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” will be Feb. 7-23.
“Harvey” will be March 20 to April 5.
“Camelot” will be June 12-28.
All performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets for the main stage are $22 for adults or $20 for seniors and students.
A season subscription of three shows is $63 per person, or $57 for seniors and students. A select package of four shows is $80 per person or $72 for seniors and students. An elite package of five shows is $95 per person, or $85 for seniors and students.
Special times will be announced for “A Christmas Carol.” All tickets to “A Christmas Carol” and other special events and concerts are $15.
Playhouse 22 is located at the Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
For tickets, visit www.playhouse22.org.
American Legion Post 253 is offering a bus trip to the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City on March 15.
Cost is $25 per person through Feb. 16, or $35 thereafter. Includes slot cash, light continental breakfast and door prizes.
The bus will leave at 10 a.m. from Post 253, 50 Devoe Ave., Spotswood. Expected return time is 8 p.m.
For reservations, call or text 732-991-9507, or send money via PayPal to [email protected].
Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will celebrate its 25th anniversary with its 16th annual gala, Gala de Espana, from 4-8:30 p.m. on March 15 at Ria Mar, 25 Whitehead St., South River.
Honorees include Lisa Botalico, assistant director and principal dancer; Gisele Assi, Flamenco singer and principal dancer; Krystina Moreno, principal dancer; Teresa Rodriguez, Flamenco soloist; and Catarina Carrasco, featured dancer.
There will be an all-Spanish banquet with sangria and desserts. Dance to the music of Donny Pesce. Wear a Flamenco costume or Spanish-themed dress for a best outfit prize.
Tickets are $75 per person or $700 for a table of 10.
To order online, visit www.eventbrite.com.
For more information, call 732-598-3979.
The annual Makerfest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 .m. on March 21 at the Monroe Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
The annual celebration will include crafting, electronics, 3D Printing, creativity, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), hands-on projects and demonstrations for all ages.
For more information, call 732-521-5000 or visit www.monroetwplibrary.org.
The East Brunswick Domestic Response Team is seeking volunteers.
Citizens are trained to respond to local police departments on an on-call basis to provide support and information to victims of domestic abuse.
For more information, email [email protected].
The Friends of the Monroe Library will celebrate Women’s History Month with a Women in History presentation – Doughnuts for Doughboys: A World War I Salvation Army Lassie in Neuvilly, France at 2 p.m. on March 26 at the library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
Approximately 500 Salvation Army volunteers during World War I were young women who served with the American Army in France. Laurie Gaulke will perform the engaging historical portrayal.
For more information, visit www.monoretwplibrary.org.
United Way of Central Jersey received a grant from the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a Division of Programs in the Department of State, which hosts the New Jersey Complete Count Commission to continue its advocacy efforts for a complete 2020 census count within Middlesex County.
United Way will focus on increasing the count of young children ages 0-5 and their families residing within neighborhoods designated as Hard to Count (HTC) based upon responses to the 2010 census.
United Way invites all potential community partners to meet at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21 at its office at 32 Ford Ave. in Milltown to outline the outreach plan approved by the Complete Count Commission and determine the specific outreach schedule in terms of kiosk and mobile support center locations and rotation among partners.
The Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office will hold an 8-week-long Sheriff’s Civilian Academy for residents of Middlesex County in the spring.
The Sheriff’s Civilian Academy is designed to educate Middlesex County residents on the various functions and duties of the Sheriff’s Office.
Applications are being accepted for the program, which will be held at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville.
The first session is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on April 14. Classes will continue weekly on Tuesdays. One Saturday class will be held. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony scheduled for June 2.
Each session will highlight functions of Sheriff’s Office including: Defensive Tactics, K-9, Transportation, SWAT, Courts, Civil Process and Foreclosures among others. Participants also will tour the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office and the Main Courthouse located in New Brunswick.
Applications are due no later than Feb. 28. Applicants must be at least at 18 years old, reside within the County of Middlesex, have no felony convictions, not be wanted for any crime, and submit to a limited background check.
For more information, contact Sgt. Frank Sautner at 732-745-5909 or [email protected].
For more information on the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, call 732-745-3382.
Elvis Presley will visit the Farrington Room of the East Brunswick Elks Lodge at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21.
Mike Holland will perform during the dinner show.
Cost is $15 for the show, or $25 for dinner and show.
Pre-purchased tickets offer a $2 discount on either package.
The lodge is located at 21 Oakmont Ave., East Brunswick.
For tickets, contact Aimee Schneider at 732-207-3774 or [email protected].
A corned beef and cabbage event will be held from 1-7 p.m. on March 17 at American Legion Post 253, 50 Devoe Ave., Spotswood.
All-you-can-eat buffet for $10. Drink specials will be announced.
The Monroe Township Public Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with a poetry contest and poetry fair.
Monroe residents are encouraged to enter the poetry contest sponsored by the Poets Corner poetry group by submitting an original poem, with a maximum of 24 lines. One entry per person. Entrant’s name, address and contact number must be clearly and legibly written or typed with the submission. The deadline for submission is March 14.
Poems must be mailed to the Monroe Township Library, c/o Poets Corner, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Township, NJ 08831.
The competition will conclude with a Poetry Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 17. The Poetry Contest winner will be notified by mail and will be invited to read his/her work at this event.
Poets Corner meets on the first Friday of every month at 11:00 am at the Monroe Township Library. Interested and aspiring poets are welcome to attend. Registration is not required.
National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry which takes place each April, was introduced in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States.
Guidelines for the annual NAMI NJ (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Dara Axelrod Expressive Arts Mental Health Poetry Contest include:
* Poem should be in keeping with the theme of how your superpowers helped you battle your challenges with mental illness
* Poem must be typewritten. If sent electronically, do not send PDF files.
* Poem should be no longer than 40 lines.
* Fill out a media release form to accompany your entry.
* Provide a cover letter that includes your name, email (if available), mailing address and phone number.
The contest submission deadline is March 25.
Mail typed entries to NAMI NJ Poetry Contest, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick 08902. Or, email your entry with the signed media release form to [email protected].
April is the National Poetry Month and May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Jamesburg Presbyterian Church will hold a Merit Badge Fair on March 28, open to all Boy Scouts of America scouts.
Each class has a $15 non-refundable registration fee. Separate transactions are required for registering each sibling.
Each scout will receive one free lunch; additional food and snacks available for sale.
Scouts must be prepared. Bring a signed blue card, printed merit badge workbook for each class, pen and paper. Scouts should be dressed in Class A uniform.
If prerequisites are not completed, a partial completion will be given.
For more information, visit www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0a4daea62ca5ff2-merit. Do not call the church.
The music of Eric Clapton will be played by the band Slow Hands from 4-6 p.m. on March 29 at Monroe Township High School, 200 Schoolhouse Road, Monroe.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for patrons, or free for students with ID. For tickets, visit www.monroetownshipculturalarts.com, or they will be available for purchase at the box office one prior to showtime.
Presented by the Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission.
The East Brunswick Public School District offers General Education Inclusive Preschool classes, open to all three- and four-year-old children who reside in East Brunswick.
Children must be three years of age by Oct. 31 and not age eligible for kindergarten (5 years of age by Oct. 31) in order to participate in the program in September.
The classes are taught by certified teachers and supported with paraprofessional aides. This program provides an inclusive educational environment for preschool children aligned with the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations. This program includes both typically developing and special needs preschool children.
This tuition-based program is five days per week, two-and-one half hours per day and follows the 10 month school calendar. Both morning and afternoon sessions are available.
Tuition is not assessed for families eligible for free and reduced lunch. Information on eligibility for free and reduced lunch and the application is available on the district website at www.ebnet.org/preschool and at each elementary school.
Transportation for this program is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Applications are available at www.ebnet.org/preschool and must be received by March 20. Send completed applications to: Assistant Superintendent of Student Activities/Services East Brunswick Public Schools, 760 Route 18, East Brunswick 08816.
A limited number of openings will be available. Requests for specific sessions will be considered based on the number of applicants. However, there are no guarantees for parental requested placements.
A lottery drawing will occur in April if the number of applicants exceeds the openings.
For more information, call 732-613-6750.
The Woodbridge Township Psychic Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 7 at the Evergreen Senior Center, 400 Inman Ave., Colonia section of Woodbridge.
Readers scheduled to appear include Jane Doherty, Judy Kay, Jennifer Wood, Scotty The NJ Medium, Constance Elek, Intuitive April the Psychic Housewife of New Jersey, Dawn Strouse, Bonnie Edwards, Michele Germann Rothermel and Christine Barath. Palm readings by Shannon, Marie Gilbert and Jean Lee Brown Ramalho.
Admission is $5. Lectures are free.
The 2020 Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo will showcase more than 200 exhibitors selling saltwater fishing products, from new boats and kayaks to an array of accessories including fishing rods, reels and lures, from noon to 8 p.m. on March 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 14 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 15 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
The annual event includes a seminar on filleting and preparing fish, a Fishing 101 Interactive Center, a 50-foot casting pond, a fishing simulator and free fishing for children 11 and younger.
Tickets are $13 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and younger when accompanied by an adult. All children 11 and under will receive free admission on March 15. Rods Go Free on March 13 – anyone named Rod or any variation of the name will receive free admission with a valid form of ID.
Tickets are on sale at saltwater.sportshows.com/.
Registration is open for the 44th annual Rutgers Home Gardeners School, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 21 at the Rutgers University Cook/Douglass campus in New Brunswick.
The Home Gardeners School is 40 individual workshop sessions that cover an array of horticulture topics. This format allows attendees to select the workshops that are most relevant to their gardening interests and create their own personalized schedule for a day of learning. Expert speakers from commercial horticulture and landscape design firms, as well as faculty and staff from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), will cover topics including landscape design, common problems and solutions, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, beekeeping, hardscaping, best management practices and deer control methods.
The registration fee is $95, but early registration is $80 is being offered through Feb. 29. An additional discounted fee of $70 is available for Master Gardeners (certificate required) through Feb. 29.
Attendees are asked to bring food donations for Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH) or pet items for Scarlet Paws Rescue.
For more information or to register, visit www.cpe.rutgers.edu/hgs or call the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education at 848-932-9271.
Children who will be five years of age on or before Oct. 31, 2020, are eligible for the East Brunswick Public School full-day kindergarten program for the 2020-21 school year.
Registration is by appointment only. Visit www.ebnet.org/register to schedule an appointment.
All required forms and additional information can be found on the website.
Registration takes place at the District Registration Office located in the Jon R. Kopko Administration Building, 760 Route 18, East Brunswick. Registration ends April 30.
The Antonia Maria Foundation and Day One Sober Living will hold their 2020 spring gala, Celebrate a New Day, from 7-11 p.m. on April 3 at the South Gate Manor, Freehold.
The second annual gala will launch the partnership with Day One to help revolutionize sober living care for women in New Jersey. Together, the two organizations will be opening Leo’s House, a recovery home for women following in the footsteps of Gracie’s House. Both are located in North Brunswick.
For information on tickets or sponsorship, call 732-823-8350.
Teens across the state can begin submitting entries for the 25th Annual New Jersey Teen Media Contest, which highlights NJ Human Services’ mission to support families.
The contest, run by Human Services’ Division of Family Development, is open to all New Jersey middle and high school-aged students. This year, the contest will accept entries in the hand-painted/hand-drawn and written word categories.
This year’s challenge to teens is to illustrate through art, including the written word, a valuable life lesson or moment that you will never forget. Teens are invited to show when parents and other loved ones provided valuable life lessons and teaching moments.
All entries must be postmarked no later than March 11. Staff from the Division of Family Development and its Office of Child Support Services will judge the contest. Winners will be selected in first, second, and third places in both the middle and high school groups, for each of the two entry categories, with each receiving a prize package at an awards ceremony in May.
Winning entries will be included in the 2021 Office of Child Support Calendar and be placed on display in the New Jersey State House in Trenton shortly after the awards event. A number of honorable mention entries will be selected for possible inclusion in the State House exhibit and possibly the calendar.
The 2020 calendar can be viewed or downloaded from the contest homepage, www.NJTeenMedia.org to serve as inspiration for the teens. The website also provides the official rules, frequently asked questions, entry forms, a look at the winners and honorable mentions from previous contests and other important contest information.
Entries can be submitted via the students’ art or English/language arts teachers, if their school is registered. Teachers and administrators can register their school by visiting www.NJTeenMedia.org or by contacting Matthew Cossel at 973-799-0200 or [email protected]. Teens whose schools are not registered can submit entries directly.
For complete submission guidelines, visit www.NJTeenMedia.org. For more information about child support services, call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or visit www.NJChildSupport.org.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar launched its fourth annual Above and “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest, which will recognize top teachers nominated by their students.
The contest is offered at Applebee’s restaurants in New Jersey owned and operated by local franchisee Doherty Enterprises: Brick, Bridgewater, Butler, Clark, Clifton, Edison, Flemington, Garfield, Hackensack, Hackettstown, Hillsborough, Howell, Jersey City, Jersey Gardens, Kearny, Lacey, Linden, Manahawkin, Manalapan, Manchester, Middletown, Milltown, Mt. Olive, Newark, Newton, North Bergen, Northvale, Ocean, Paramus, Parsippany, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Rockaway, Tinton Falls, Totowa, Union and Wall.
Applebee’s will award four winners from separate regions with a $500 sponsorship check to use toward their classroom for the 2020-21 school year, along with an end-of-year party for their current class.
To nominate a teacher, students must submit an essay in-person at their local Applebee’s explaining why their teacher deserves to be Teacher of the Year. Students who enter will receive a free ice cream certificate (one per entrant).
Contest submissions will be accepted through March 1. Winners will be announced on April 6.
For more information about, visit www.dohertyinc.com/community-connection.
The Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo will be held March 27-29 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
Reiki, crystals, psychic readings, workshops and aura photography.
Hours are 5-9 p.m. on March 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 29.
Free tote for the first 150 attendees at the door on March 28 and 29.
For more information and tickets, visit www.heartofonenessholisticexpo.com.
Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County will hold its One Community Gala for 2020 at 5 p.m. on June 14 at Classical Caterers at Congregation B’Nai Tikvah, 1001 Finnegans Lane, North Brunswick.
Dinner, dancing and auction.
Honorees include community leaders David and Ellen Rabinowitz, BCB Bank and Vincent Davis, and Bill Neary.
Sponsorship opportunities and journal ads are available.
For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected], or call 732-777-1940.
The fourth annual Celebrate Middlesex County event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 13 at Roosevelt Park, Parsonage Road, Edison.
Enjoy roller skating, a fishing derby, live music, entertainment, food trucks and hands-on activities.
For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov/celebrate.